U.S., Iraq express appreciation for sacrifices made by coalition forces

SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- The presidents of the United States and Iraq thanked
South Korean troops for their contributions to the stabilization of the war-torn
Middle Eastern country, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday.
The message was delivered to South Korean Prime Minister Han Seung-soo at a
meeting co-hosted by U.S. President George W. Bush and his Iraqi counterpart
Jalal Talabani on the fringes of the 63rd General Assembly of the United Nations
under way in New York, according to the ministry.
Heads of state and foreign ministers from the 30 member nations in the U.S.-led
coalition forces in Iraq attended the gathering held Tuesday (local time).
"President Bush and President Talabani expressed gratitude for South Korea's
Zaytun unit and other participating nations for their cooperation and
contributions to the stabilization, reconstruction, and democratization of Iraq,"
the ministry said in a press release. "The presidents also called for the
countries to bolster diplomatic ties with Iraq and promote cooperation in the
civilian sector down the road."
South Korea announced a plan last week to withdraw the Zaytun unit from Iraq at
the end of this year. Zaytun means olive in Arabic.
Seoul sent 3,600 troops to Iraq in 2004 and has extended the deployment four
times. The number in the contingent has been cut to 650 in stages.